Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine hormone that is expressed in multiple tissues and functions physiologically to maintain energy homeostasis. FGF21 is being pursued as a therapeutic target for diabetes and obesity because of its rapid and potent effects on improving insulin sensitivity. However, whether FGF21 enhances insulin sensitivity under physiologic conditions remains unclear. Here we show that liver-derived FGF21 enters the circulation during fasting, but also remains present and functional during the early stage of refeeding. Following a prolonged fast, FGF21 acts as an insulin sensitizer to overcome the peripheral insulin resistance induced by fasting, thereby maximizing glucose uptake. Likewise, FGF21 is produced from the liver during overfeeding and mitigates peripheral insulin resistance. Diet-induced obese FGF21 liver-specific knockout, but not FGF21 adipose-specific knockout, mice have increased insulin resistance and decreased brown adipose tissue mediated glucose disposal. These data are compatible with the concept that FGF21 functions physiologically as an insulin sensitizer under conditions of acute refeeding and overfeeding.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
10
3%
Neuroscience
8
3%
Other
36
11%
Unknown
103
32%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 11. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 06 February 2026.
All research outputs
#4,245,980
of 32,718,554 outputs
Outputs from Diabetes
#1,952
of 11,536 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#40,399
of 292,421 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Diabetes
#46
of 169 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 32,718,554 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 86th percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 11,536 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 10.3. This one has done well, scoring higher than 82% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 292,421 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done well, scoring higher than 85% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 169 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 72% of its contemporaries.
